Andre Ward: record, next fight and profile →
By Lyle Fitzsimmons - When it comes to forecasting fights, I go one of two ways. Sometimes I’m as sure as sure can be. One guy will win. And my view doesn’t change. Other times, it’s just the opposite. Depending on the hour, I can see a different conclusion. Mayweather-Pacquiao was an example of the former. Makes no difference to...
“We showed the pop in this weight class. We just want to keep sharpening things up offensively and defensively," Andre Ward said.
Fighting in front of his hometown crowd, Ward was the quicker fighter most of the night and used his jab to score often, mixing it with a powerful left hook that landed to the head frequently. He also ducked away from most of Barrera’s punches and at one point in the sixth smiled after Barrera swung and missed twice.
The win paves the way for Ward to fight Kovalev, the Russian slugger who has defended his title three times since beating Bernard Hopkins in a unification match in 2014. While talks between both camps have been ongoing, things are expected to heat up now.
Abel Sanchez, trainer for IBF/IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin, explained why they were willing to face Carl Froch at the super middleweight limit of 168-pounds, but not Andre Ward (29-0, 15KOs).
About the only thing to go wrong for the Oakland fighter came late in the eighth when referee Raul Caiz deducted a point from Ward for a low blow that sent Barrera (17-1) down to one knee. Ward also drew a warning in the 10th for an accidental head butt.
light heavyweight debut Saturday night, setting the stage for a potential title fight against unified champion Sergey Kovalev. Ending a nine-month layoff while fighting for just the fourth time in four years, Ward (29-0) knocked down Barrera in the second round with a sharp left. The 34-year-old Cuban bounced up quickly before Ward landed another pair of stinging lefts to the head.
OAKLAND, California: Andre Ward unanimously outpointed Sullivan Barrera in his light heavyweight debut Saturday night, setting the stage for a potential title fight against unified champion Sergey Kovalev.
Abel Sanchez, trainer for Sullivan Barrera, says Andre Ward (29-0, 15KOs) is in no way ready for a showdown with WBO/WBA/IBF light heavyweight king Sergey Kovalev (29-0-1, 26KOs).
A few days ago, Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0, 26KOs) threw down a challenge to Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin. He dared the IBO/WBA/IBF middleweight champion to move up in weight, to 168-pounds, to fight Andre Ward.